The Garden of Joys: An Anthology of Oriental Anecdotes, Fables and Proverbs

An anthology of anecdotes, fables, stories and proverbs related and translated from the oral tradition of the Arab lands and from Persian and Arabic literature. Henry Cattan has selected from a number of oral and written sources evocative of Eastern wisdom and humour and featuring some of the most memorable of Arab folk characters. Most famous of all is Juha, the popular humourist from folk legend who is perhaps best known in the West as Mullah Nasreddin. Juha’s stories have enriched an oral tradition which has for centuries been for the people of Levant a means of expressing through wit and humour their convictions about humanity, society and man’s place in the world. The last section of the book features a handful of the 7000 proverbs which are still used today to adorn language and conversation.